Skupian has lived in the UK for around 11 years and suffered a neck injury in a serious car crash at the end of last year, forcing him to take sick leave from a catering trade job, Ms Jamroz said.

Around the same time he separated from his wife and become homeless.

Shortly before the race Mr Skupian suffered a short, temporary breakdown in his mental state, she added.

He was arrested after police searched the multi-faith prayer room at Heathrow Airport, where he was found with items including a primary school worker's ID card and a pink diary holding overtime hoursworked by airline staff.

Skupian viewed the airport as a temporary home and would pick up left-behind objects to pass to lost property, claiming he was going to return the items, the court heard.

Skupian, who wore a grey jumper and used a Polish translator, pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity last month to fraud by false representation and to three unrelated counts of theft.

"The offences are so serious as only a prison sentence will suffice," magistrate Michael O'Gorman said.

Skupian was sentenced to 13 weeks for the fraud and three weeks for the theft offences, to be served consecutively.

He was also given a criminal behaviour order banning him from Heathrow Airport for three years unless he had a pre-booked flight ticket for that day.